Preview

How Does Iago Use Animal Metaphors In Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
246 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Iago Use Animal Metaphors In Othello
If black rams and jackdaws are the bestial transmutations of Othello, then hens and baboons become the objects with which Iago verbalizes his misogyny. Iago’s dehumanization of the love shared between men and women adds another component to Iago’s possible queer identity: “I have never found / man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say / I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, I / would change my humanity with a baboon” (1.2.355-58). Iago clearly holds the gender dynamic between the sexes in utter disdain. Like the jackdaws, the specificity of Iago’s animal metaphors also beg commentary. Both the guinea hen and baboon are creatures that are foreign to Europe, hence Iago’s insult gains an added exclusionary valence in association

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The production of Othello was put on by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, located in Washington, D.C. The setting occurred in Venice at the time of war between Venice and Turkey, later moving into the island of Cyprus. Though the play is originally set in the late sixteenth century this adaption was portrayed in post WWI. The change in the time made it possible for a changes in costume and more modernized battle scenes.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Iago has the ability to manipulate and hurt many characters for his personal gain throughout Othello. Iago uses flattery to Brabantio to stir bad emotions. Iago desires for Brabantio to seek out his daughter and separate her from “the Moor.” In order to achieve this, he must convince Brabantio of his honesty. Iago twists the truth and says to Brabantio, “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs” (Shakespeare 5). Iago gives a sense of offense and rudeness, making Brabantio feel uncomfortable. Iago manipulates the situation and turns Brabantio feelings towards Othello bitter. Iago uses racist and animal imagery to relate to Othello, which he knows will stir anger in Brabantio. This…

    • 160 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare has created the character of Iago as the villain of the play. He drives the plot as he schemes and manipulated other characters. He fascinates and terrifies the audience with his revengeful plotting which he has no real motivation for.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many characters in the Shakespearian play, Othello, are deceived by the clever and flattering Iago. Early on in the play, Iago is trying to get his plans against Othello into motion. He meticulously chooses vulnerable characters to help carry out his vengeful scheme. Roderigo is one of the many susceptible characters who fall for Iago’s tricks. Iago catches Roderigo in a very vulnerable state and carefully plants his own scheme into Roderigo’s mind. Iago wants Roderigo to keep fighting for Desdemona despite her marriage to Othello. He tells him “Seek thou rather be hazed in compassing thy joy then to be drowned without her” (1.3 353-355). Iago flatters Roderigo by making him believe he has a chance with Desdemona and to fight for her using…

    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago’s contribution to an unstable mood shapes the theme of jealousy taking over or acting as a consumer because Iago illustrates that jealousy can be the driving force behind abhorrence as it grows bigger and bigger. Iago continues to exact revenge on Othello and other people are being affected negatively as they fall with Othello. As Iago and Roderigo are fighting, Iago steps aside and says: “ Now, whether he kill Cassio,/or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,/ Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,/ he calls me to a restitution large/ of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him/… If Cassio do remain,/ he hath a daily beauty in his life/ that makes me ugly. And Besides, the Moor/ May unfold me to him.” (V.I.13-22) Iago is thinking of killing Roderigo because he might be a threat…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In analysis of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of “Othello,” famed 20th century literary critic W.H. Auden suggests that all the dastardly deeds are of Iago’s doing, and that “everything he sets out to do, he accomplishes”. I personally agree with this stance, as well as Auden’s proclamation that Iago is a “triumphant villain”. To fully understand how Iago fits the role of the “triumphant villain,” however, one must understand that there are two parts to this claim.…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the onset of Othello, the audience is unknowingly subject to Iago’s manipulative customs. Despite being a stereotypical Shakespearian antagonist, Iago is a complex, two faced, yet three dimensional, character. Despite being an eponymous play, suggesting Othello’s importance, his absence in light of Iago’s presence allows the audience to be influenced and therefore misled by Iago’s representation of Othello…

    • 1063 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Enduring Value - Othello

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Shakespeare’s masterpiece Othello has remained relevant beyond its original context not merely because of its universal themes of love and betrayal, but rather, due to its textual integrity, and the enduring value which is enhanced through the exploration of such issues, as marginalisation and the psychology of villainy. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Othello as being an outsider, and being “othered” by the Venetian society due to his different race, reflects traditional Elizabethan values and ethics regarding racial prejudice and inequality. These recurring issues, of social intolerance and racial bias are prevalent concerns in our modern society. Shakespeare’s expresses the nature of villainy through his antagonist, Iago, as he explores issues of betrayal and deceit. These issues, revolving around Othello’s passion, struggle and vulnerability, as an outsider, are representative of the human condition, hence making it pivotal, of why “Othello” has remained relevant in a different context.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before the audience is presented with Othello, Iago and Brabantio would lead them to the common, negative presumption of a black character through degrading terms and bestial imagery such as ‘the Moor’, ‘thick lips’, ‘Barbary horse’ and ‘old black ram’. When we are presented with Othello, we are able to move away from these negative views and discern for ourselves what he is really like:…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Othello, the relationship between Iago and Emilia is an example of power in gender roles as they were prescribed in Renascence society which, ultimately destroys Emilia; the feminine persona. The definition of women as subservient to men is exemplified in their behavior towards each other. Emilia, hardened to cynicism about male - female relationships by years of marriage, has the view that women are 'food' for men who are 'all stomachs' and 'belch' women when full. Iago continually describes women as 'whores' by which he means only well for supplying the desires of men, in this case, the handkerchief. In contrast to Things Fall Apart, much of the traditional Ibo life presented in this novel revolves around structured gender roles. Essentially all of Ibo life is gendered, from the crops that men and women grow, to characterization of crimes. In Ibo culture, women are the weaker gender, but are also endowed with qualities that make them worthy of worship, like the ability to bear children. The dominant role for women is: first, to make a pure bride for an honorable man, second, to be a submissive wife, and third, to bear many children. The ideal man provides for his family materially and has prowess on the battlefield.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play Othello written by Shakespeare, Iago is characterized as an individual who is both manipulative, egoistic and troubled. He had previously suspected that Othello, otherwise known as Moor had slept with his wife Emilia. Leaving Iago with a strong desire for revenge. Shakespeare successfully uses diction and symbolism throughout the passage. These devices are used to provide the reader insights regarding Iago’s character and motivation.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Identity Essay

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Shakespeare's 'Othello' is the study of how a seemingly successful Venetian general, is skilfully manipulated by the cunning Iago, who by exploiting Othello’s insecurities transforms his identity into a jealous murderer. At the beginning of the play, Othello’s identity is that of an assiduous black general who fought exceptionally hard to gain respect in a white dominated society. In marrying Desdemona, Othello adds to his identity by being a lover and husband and his identity is portrayed to be interconnected to his love for Desdemona. Iago is jealous of Othello’s high standing and greatly respected identity and therefore undermines Othello’s confidence in his wives faithfulness and turns his identity into an irrational jealously. Shakespeare utilises a number of key techniques in ‘Othello,’ to indicate the extent of Othello’s identity changes. These changes are effectively conveyed to the audience through the contrast of Othello’s outward appearance with his affable interior. They are further…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago's Cruelty

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Immediately Iago’s thoughts towards Othello and Desdemona's Elopement are evident within his tone. He refers to Othello as an old black ram - indicating his racially charged hatred towards Othello. The metaphoric reference to Othello and Desdemona making love is full of detestation and loathing; it is clear that whatever affection he later displays towards Othello- it is all part of his act.…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    • Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the Elizabethan stage…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Animal Imagery in Othello

    • 708 Words
    • 2 Pages

    We talked a lot about Iago's constant use of sexual imagery. We also discussed his use of beasts and animal imagery to describe people and his consistent desire to reduce men and their actions to that of beasts. 

 

"Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, 

I would change my humanity with a baboon." (1.3.312-3) - Iago uses the derisory "guinea-hen", a euphemism for a prostitute. 

"drown cats and blind puppies" (Iago 1.3.332-3) 

"[Othello] will be as tenderly led by the nose / As asses are." (Iago 

1.3.395-6) 

"with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as 

Cassio" (Iago 2.1.165-6) 

"indeed my invention / Comes from my pate as birdlime does from 

frize" (Iago 2.1.124-5). Lime was put on the branches of trees where
it would stick to birds' feet and so trap them. 

Iago uses an image of hunting dogs weighed down to prevent them 

moving too fast to describe the way he manipulates Roderigo "this 

poor trash of Venice" (2.1.294) 

"Or keep it in a cistern (septic tank) for foul toads / To know and 

gender in!" - an image of toads all tumbled together, copulating

(Othello 4.2.60-1) 

"as summer flies are in the shambles, / That quicken even with 

blowing" (Othello 4.2.65-6) - an image of flies breeding rapidly 

around butcher's shops 

There are references to goats, monkeys - allegedly lascivious 

creatures 

There are references to dogs and worms and a snake: 


Roderigo calls Iago "O inhuman dog!" (5.1.62) 

Lodovico calls Iago "O, Spartan dog" (5.2.357) - Spartan dogs 

were notoriously fierce.
 Lodovico calls Iago a "viper" (5.2.282)

"The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk" (Othello 3.4.73)

Othello talks about Desdemona crying crocodile…

    • 708 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays